Arthritis

Description

Swelling, pain and stiffness in one or more joints that often gets worse with age.

Overview

The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Osteoarthritis causes cartilage to break down. Cartilage is the tissue that covers the bones where they form a joint. Rheumatoid arthritis is an immune system condition that causes antibodies to attack the lining of your joints. Arthritis risk factors include a family history of the condition and older age.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of arthritis involve the joints. Symptoms may include pain, stiffness, swelling, a change in skin color and decreased range of motion.

Treatments

Arthritis treatment depends on the type of arthritis a person has. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and improving joint function. Medicines and physical therapy are often used to treat arthritis. Healthy changes may help ease symptoms. Lose extra weight if needed and try low-impact exercises. If these don't help enough, surgery may be a treatment option.